The first segment was on cheer injury and death and I was shocked to learn of the increasing number of cheerleaders who are injured, paralyzed or even die each year from tumbling and stunting accidents. I can surely attest to the risks associated in cheerleading as the only two serious injuries I have ever suffered were cheer related. I broke my arm badly in the third grade during a tumbling pass that left me cast ridden for three months. My senior year of high school, I left practice in an ambulance after injuring my back during another tumbling pass. After months of rehab, I cheered again but never returned to the same level of tumbling skill that I had before the injury.
The E! story had video footage of girls who were paralyzed after falling from stunts. One catastrophic story detailed an accident that left Bethany Norwood paralyzed after she was dropped from a basket toss. After showing an interview of Bethany from her wheelchair, the program then went on to report that she passed away shortly after the taping following a blood clot related to her paralyzation! Then there was 14-year-old Ashley Burns, who on August 9, 2005, died of an injury to her spleen during a practice session. Burns was in the middle of arabesque double-down when she failed to complete the second of two twists. She landed chest down and died shortly after. When you hear about cheerleading deaths, it is certainly shocking. However, when you see the video and the interviews with the parents, it is truly heartbreaking!
Other segments reported on the changing styles of uniforms, especially for Tiny’s and Mini’s, which prompted a call to my young daughter’s cheer coach to ensure that she would not be showing her tummy! Other features included eating disorders which profiled a cheerleader from SFA – the team that I RAVED about after seeing them at Nationals! Male cheerleading stereotypes were addressed as well as the “overbearing cheer mom” which makes me never want to put on the “cheer parent” shirt that I just bought! After this program, it’s almost like waering a scarlet letter! What crazy cheer mom story would be complete without the Texas woman convicted of attempting to murder her daughter’s high school cheer rival?
There were so many other hot topics presented….from the real lives of NFL cheerleaders to sexual misconduct though texting! The show certainly jump-started my list of writing topics for my new interns! Stay tuned for more insightful blogs related to the ever scandalous world of competitive cheerleading!